Tire chain



E. 8. AND R. C. HOGSHEAD.

TIRE CHAIN. APPLICATION FILED OCT-4| i921.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

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EDGAR S. HOGSHEAED, OF MOUNT SOLON, AND RODNEY C. HOGSHEAD, GORDONSVILLE,

VIRGINIA.

TIRE CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 14, 1922,

Application filed October 4, 1921. Serial No. 505,314.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDGAR S. HOGSHEAD and RODNEY C. Hoosnniin, citizens of the United 7 States, residing, respectively, at Mount Solon and Gordonsville, in the counties of Augusta and Orange and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Tire Chains, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to tire chains and the primary object thereof is the provision of a chain which will effectively prevent skidding of the wheel to which the same is applied, and which will automatically bind upon the tire, eliminating any possibility of the chain slipping relative to the periphery of the wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a tire chain means for automatically binding the chain on the tire.

, With these and such other objects in view as will be apparent from the description, the invention resides in the novel combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which 7 Figure 1 is an elevation of a part of the wheel and tire equipped with our improved chain; 7

Fig. 2, a perspective of one of the chain members employed; and

Fig. 3, an end elevation of the members shown in Figure 2. I

In detail, the chaincomprises link members l, stormed of heavy steel wire, in this preferred form of the invention, the ends of the wires forming. the links being bent upon themselves to pass through and be secured in enlarged eyes 2, formed at the apeXes of triangular side pieces 3. The side chain proper comprises a plurality of the links 1 connected by the side members 3, as illustrated in Figure 1, said links and side members being disposed adjacent the rim of the wheel as in the ordinary manner of chainsnow in use.

The side members-3 are formed preferably of pressed steel, approximately in the shape of an equilateral triangle, with the apexes 2 being enlarged for strengthening the connection with the link members 1, and having their central portions cut away as illustrated at 4. Cross chains 5 are secured to the upper apexes of each side member 3, and extend across the tread of the tire to connect with s m larside members disposed on the 0pposite side, as will be understood.

It has been found that a serious detect 7 been absolutely overcome by reason of the fact that as the cross chains 5 are carried backward on the tire, to thedottedline po sition as shown at 6, the upper apexes 7 of the members 3 will be moved rearwardly thereby throwing the lower apexes to the dotted line positions as shown in Figure 1, whereby the side members will in effect be fulcrumed against the rimof the wheel and the links 1. will be automatically drawn closer to providefor, a tightening of the (entirechain relative-to the periphery of the tire. Y

While we have shown'and described cer- I V tain deta1ls and materials whichenter into the construction and operation of our invention, we desire itrto be understood that we do not intend to limit ourselves to these, but any such may be used as will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

WVe claim:

In a tire chain of thecharacter described, thecombination with side chains formed of links of rigid steel wire disposed at opposite sides of a tire and below the same adjacent the rim on which the tire is carried, of equilateral triangular shaped metal members connecting the ends of said links at spaced intervals, said membershaving cut awayv central portions and flat arms forming the sides, the apexes of said members being thickened in cross section 'andiprovided with eyes, one pair of which eyes'are adapted to receive the ends of said links for pivotal connection, and the other of saideyes being adapted to receive cross chainsconnecting 

